Presidents Race Videos – 2010 Season

Presidents Race Hold Auditions in the Snow, February 2010

For 2010, Presidents Day weekend followed a huge snowstorm in the Washington area, but that didn’t stop the Nats from continuing their annual tradition of holding racing president auditions that weekend. The snow had drifted to nearly 2 feet deep in the Nationals Park outfield, but nearly 50 finalists were asked to run the course anyway, and we were on hand to document the insanity with this video report (one of our most popular videos ever).

Presidents Race on Ice in New York

For the second consecutive year, the racing presidents took their show on the road during the off-season and held a presidents race on ice skates between periods of a New York Islanders hockey game at Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum. This video by alert YouTube member Dcfd3694 features a vicious body slam by Teddy Roosevelt that sent George Washington into the boards. Alas, Teddy still fell short at the end. Literally.

Opening day disaster for the Nats and Teddy

President Obama was on hand to throw out the first pitch to open the 2010 season, but things fell apart quickly. After the Nats collapsed in the top of the 4th inning, Teddy Roosevelt collapsed near the finish line, pulling up lame and letting Abe take the first race of the 2010 season.

Tom comes from behind

In the second race of the 2010 season, Abe and Teddy jostled for the lead into the final stretch, but Thomas Jefferson moved to the inside and passed them to seal his first victory of the season. Video by YouTube user shmaggie23.

“Un-Racing Sausages” return to Nationals Park

On April 16, the Nationals opened a homestand with the Milwaukee Brewers in town. The Brewer’s famous racing sausages have repeatedly refused to accompany the team to DC to take on the racing presidents, so for the 2nd year, the Nationals brought out their own fake sausages to be humiliated by Abe Lincoln. Video by YouTube user lfahome.

Presidents pummel “Un-Racing Sausages”

On April 17, the Nationals pummeled the Brewers and their sausages, as the team beat the Brewers 8-0 and the presidents took on the sausages in a relay race, tackling all 5 of them on the way to the finish line.

Teddy ambushes “Un-Racing Sausages” with fork and knife

On April 18, the Nats completed their 3-game mockery of Milwaukee’s racing sausages when Teddy Roosevelt waited in ambush near the finish line wearing a bib, fork & knife in hand. Video by YouTube user lfahome.

Abe takes on the Let Teddy Win fans

On April 21, WeLoveDC.com sponsored its first “Let Teddy Win” Night at Nationals Park, complete with a private ballpark tour, pre-game rally, presidents race trivia contest, food, prizes, and rally for Teddy Roosevelt. The crowd was in a frenzy when Abe passed Teddy in the presidents race, then climbed into the stands to take on Teddy’s supporters. Video by YouTube user lfahome.

Abe takes on the Let Teddy Win fans

On April 21, WeLoveDC.com sponsored its first “Let Teddy Win” Night at Nationals Park, complete with a private ballpark tour, pre-game rally, presidents race trivia contest, food, prizes, and rally for Teddy Roosevelt. The crowd was in a frenzy when Abe passed Teddy in the presidents race, then climbed into the stands to take on Teddy’s supporters. Video by YouTube user lfahome.

On Earth Day, Teddy plants a tree in foul territory

On Earth Day 2010, George, Tom, and Abe took off from the presidents race starting gate, but Teddy was sitting on the first baseline, planting a tree in foul territory. As the other presidents raced by him, Teddy attempted to protect the tree. Video courtesy of YouTube member TheTeddyRoosevelt.

Teddy rides a Segway, loses anyway

On April 23, Teddy burst out of the gate riding a Segway personal transportation device. For a moment, it appeared that Teddy would cruise to victory aboard the Segway, but the other presidents caught him quickly, and Abe Lincoln taunted his opponents before crossing the finish line for the victory. Video courtesy of YouTube member TheTeddyRoosevelt.

Presidents face minefield of mascots on Screech’s birthday

On April 25, Nationals mascot and presidents race judge Screech the Eagle celebrated his birthday at Nationals Park with visits by a dozen other local sports mascots. For the 4th-inning presidents race, they formed a mascot barracade that the presidents had to navigate through. Video courtesy of YouTube member TheTeddyRoosevelt.

Tom pauses to have an energy drink before sprinting ahead

On May 6, Thomas Jefferson sprinted ahead to a quick lead, but ran out of energy quickly. Fortunately for Tom, he had an energy drink handy, and sprinted past his opponents a second time to take the victory. Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome.

Brian from Family Guy helps Teddy, tackles George, Tom

On May 8, The Nationals held a “Pups in the Park” promotion, in which dog-lovers could bring their pets to Nationals Park. Teddy honored the team’s canine fans by bringing Brian Griffin, the dog from The Family Guy onto the field to help fend off the other racing presidents. Brian knocked Washington and Jefferson to the Ground as Teddy sprinted ahead, but Lincoln evaded the dog and caught up to Teddy for the victory. Video courtesy of YouTube member pjf311.

“That Cat” and the Nats Park grounds crew disrupt the race

In easily the most chaotic presidents race on record, the Nationals Park team pulled out everything but the kitchen sink on June 9. With the Pittsburgh Pirates in town, the Pirates’ racing Pierogies joined the race, and the Nats trotted out their own fake versions of Milwaukee’s racing sausages. With a dozen participants already racing around the warning track, “That Cat” appeared on the first base line, and recruited the entire Nationals Park grounds crew onto the field to tackle all of the pierogies and sausages, leaving only the presidents to cross the finish line. Video courtesy of YouTube member TheTeddyRoosevelt.

Teddy gets new red shoes, trips in the outfield

On June 19, Teddy got new red shoes and put them to the test, putting on a big burst of speed to take an early lead, but then he tripped over his own feet in the outfield, letting the others run by. Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome.

Abe takes out the GEICO Gecko

Thomas Jefferson won the presidents race on July 2, but it was Abe Lincoln who stole the show, veering off course at the last minute and drawing gasps as he plowed into the sponsor, knocking the GEICO Gecko silly. Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome.

Jefferson wins then signs declaration of independence

On a beautiful Independence Day at Nationals Park, Thomas Jefferson led wire-to-wire carrying an American Flag. George Washington followed with a quill pen, and Teddy Roosevelt trailed the pack carrying an oversized copy of the Declaration of Independence. After crossing the finish line, Thomas took the quill and signed the declaration of independence. Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome.

Teddy flattens Abe Lincoln with a right hook

On July 8, Teddy let out his frustration over regularly succumbing to Abe’s tricks. Teddy held a lead heading into the home stretch, but chose to turn and throw a punch at Abe Lincoln, flattening Abe to the ground, but unfortunately letting Thomas Jefferson run by for the victory. Video courtesy of YouTube member lfahome.

Teddy dresses as Santa for Christmas in July

As part of the Nationals July 11 “Christmas in July” toy drive, Teddy Roosevelt entered the race dressed as Santa Claus. He held a big lead heading into the first base foul territory, but stopped to hand out gifts to fans in section 133. Video courtesy of YouTube member TheTeddyRoosevelt.

Racing presidents hit the wall – literally – in the heat

On July 29, in the midst of a stifling heat wave, George, Abe, and Teddy all ran right into the right field wall and fell to the ground, leaving only Thomas Jefferson to mop up the win. Video courtesy of YouTube member TheTeddyRoosevelt.

Teddy falls flat on his face at the finish line

On July 31, Teddy Roosevelt nearly led from wire-to-wire, holding the lead into the final stretch, when he tripped and fell flat on his face just before the finish line. As Nats PA announcer Jerome Hruska declared “the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” members of the crowd caught on this video by YouTube member lfahome expressed the sentiment shared by thousands in the stands: “He did not just do that.”

Teddy is disqualified for “illegal use of a motor vehicle”

On August 10, with the Florida Marlins in town, Teddy Roosevelt decided to take matters into his own hands by entering the race riding a motor scooter. Teddy passed the field and did a nifty tight turn around the right field corner to break the tape. The crowd went wild, but Screech stepped in to immediately disqualify Roosevelt for “Illegal use of a motor vehicle.” Video courtesy of YouTube member TheTeddyRoosevelt.

Racing presidents wear “Jason” masks for Friday the 13th

On August 13, with the Arizona Diamondbacks in town, the racing presidents honored Friday the 13th by wearing Jason-style hockey masks. Video courtesy of YouTube member TheTeddyRoosevelt.

Racing Presidents Dance in The Nutcracker

The Washington Nationals racing presidents <a href="made an appearance in a December, 2010 performance of Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker by the Washington Ballet at the historic Warner Theatre.